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On paper, the Los Angeles Rams have had a strong offseason. Trading their second of two first-round picks for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie put a star in their defensive backfield. Signing Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson fortified the unit and helped ensure that the woes that ended last season would not rear their ugly head again.
Away from the transaction wire, things haven't been as rosy.
The biggest story of Los Angeles' spring has been wide receiver Puka Nacua's offseason. The star has stayed in both the spotlight and trouble. Amid an accusation that he made an antisemitic statement and bit a woman's shoulder, Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, has denied the allegations and revealed that Nacua has been checked into rehab.
According to McCathern, Nacua will be ready for OTAs. But as a monster extension looms, the Rams now have something to worry about, and a top-15 pick only adds to that calculus.
Do the Rams have to draft a receiver in Round 1?
It's natural for turbulence at a given position to lend itself to mock draft mania, and the 13th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft keeps the Rams in a good spot to take a receiver.
It isn't clear how the receivers will come off the board, but on film, three receivers stand out. Ohio State's Carnell Tate is the class's best receiver at the catch point and profiles as a high-level deep threat. Makai Lemon will shake off concerns about being a slot receiver with the kind of nuance that made Jaxon Smith-Njigba a supernova in 2025. Jordyn Tyson's film might be the best of the bunch, but a lingering hamstring injury makes him most likely to be available this deep into Round 1.
I don't know which receiver will be on the board when Los Angeles is on the clock, but one of them will be.
I'm also not convinced that the Rams will need to take him.
MORE: What to know about the incident that landed Puka Nacua in rehab
We are still a ways away from Nacua and Los Angeles splitting up, and with his talent, the team will be all-in on getting their receiver right, on and off the field. However, they aren't in a vulnerable enough position to warrant an extra first-round receiver.
Davante Adams is still there (and he's still excellent). Behind him, Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington have flashed enough to play ancillary roles in the offense, and if there's any coach capable of coaching around a Nacua absence -- not that one is imminent -- it's Sean McVay.
A more likely option would be waiting until Day 2 to roll the dice on a receiver. The Rams currently hold the 61st and 93rd picks on that Friday night. Might Chris Bell fall because of his injury? Would a strong receiver class push Germie Bernard down the board? Whether it's Antonio Williams or Skyler Bell, Ted Hurst or Ja'Kobi Lane, there will be starter-level options for Los Angeles to consider.
It still makes more sense for the Rams to acquire a part-time player who insulates the passing offense and eventually replaces Adams. As for Nacua, Los Angeles's urgency will be something to monitor. The newfound risk in his profile makes a receiver more likely, especially while starters are still on the board, but pencilling in a target at No. 13 remains ambitious.
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